Exposure to tobacco secondhand smoke and its associated factors among non-smoking adults in smoking-restricted and non-restricted areas: findings from a nationwide study in Malaysia

• Published in: BMJ open Vol. 8; no. 1; p. e017203
• Main Authors: Lim, Kuang Hock, Teh, Chien Huey, Nik Mohamed, Mohamad Haniki, Pan, Sayan, Ling, Miaw Yn, Mohd Yusoff, Muhammad Fadhli, Hassan, Noraryana, Baharom, Nizam, Dawam, Netty Darwina, Ismail, Norliana, Ghazali, Sumarni Mohd, Cheong, Kee Chee, Chong, Kar Hon, Lim, Hui Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.01.2018; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adults; Age Distribution; Aged; Asthma; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease; Environmental Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Epidemiology; Female; Humans; Income - statistics & numerical data; Indoor air quality; Legislation; Logistic Models; Malaysia - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; Multivariate Analysis; Nicotine; Outdoor air quality; Prevalence; Public health; Regulation; Respiratory diseases; Sex Distribution; Smoke-Free Policy; Smoking; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tobacco smoke; Tobacco Smoke Pollution - prevention & control; Tobacco Smoke Pollution - statistics & numerical data; Workplace; Young Adult; Kuala Lumpur Malaysia; Scotland; Malaysia; United Kingdom > UK; China
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017203

ObjectivesSecondhand smoke (SHS) has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the aims of the paper are to assess SHS exposure among non-smoking adults in Malaysia attending various smoking-restricted and non-restricted public areas according to the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations (CTPR) as well as its relationship with various sociodemographic variables.DesignData were extracted from a cross-sectional study, the Global Adults Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2011 which involved 3269 non-smokers in Malaysia. Data was obtained through face-to-face interviews using a validated pre-tested questionnaire. Factors associated with exposure to SHS were identified via multivariable analysis.ResultsThe study revealed that almost two-thirds of respondents were exposed to SHS in at least one public area in the past 1 month, with a significantly higher exposure among males (70.6%), those with higher educational attainment (81.4%) and higher income (quintile 1%–73.9%). Besides, the exposure to SHS was almost four times higher in non-restricted areas compared with restricted areas under the CTPR (81.9% vs 22.9). Multivariable analysis revealed that males and younger adults at non-restricted areas were more likely to be exposed to SHS while no significant associated factors of SHS exposure was observed in restricted areas.ConclusionsThe study revealed the prevalence of SHS exposure was higher among Malaysian adults. Although smoke-free laws offer protection to non-smokers from exposure to SHS, enforcement activities in restricted areas should be enhanced to ensure strict public abidance. In addition, legislation of restricted areas should also be extended to greatly reduce the SHS exposure among non-smokers in Malaysia.